20 Best Stainless Steel Lunch Box For Toddlers (2023 Updated)

I waited so long to buy this because of the price- but after searching everywhere and only being disappointed I finally gave in— and got exactly what I wanted! My elementary school kids don’t eat a traditional sandwich for lunch, but rather an assortment of various whole foods: nuts/seeds, cheeses, meats, veggies, and fruits.

So we needed something with many separate compartments. I wanted stainless steel for durability, health/safety, and longevity/sustainability. And I wanted one unit instead of a bunch of containers, since I’d be cleaning these every day.

That’s exactly what the rover is! It 100% fits all our needs and wants. If they do eat a sandwich, it fits in the big compartment; otherwise they put roll-ups, string cheese, nut butter packs, baby carrots, seaweed squares, coconut chips, etc.

wherever they fit. For rounder fruits like cucumbers/apples/pears, I cut them up first. The tiny compartment in the middle is really just bonus- I’ll put in some pumpkin seeds, cacao nibs, or a square of dark chocolate.

We’ll use the Big Dipper if they want to take yogurt. It fits just enough to make a small serving. The lid is very thick and soft, and has never leaked. We’ve been using these several months now. One of these boxes fits plenty of food for an always hungry kid for the school day (including both lunch and snack, which for some reason is a thing now).

The quality is solid and they’re so quick and easy to hand wash- which was very important to me! Note: we dropped one on our tile floor and it loosened the clasp- but I immediately found a video from Planetbox online on how to bend it back- and that fixed the issue for us easily.

They’re big so we did need to purchase the Planetbox carry bags as well, but they’re not heavy- my first grader has no issues. We were also able to fit our existing freezer packs in the carry bags, and the food stays fresh.

Basically, this thing is exactly as advertised- if it looks perfect for your needs, don’t hesitate- you’ll love it.

I had heard amazing things about these for years from friends in my area, but the price always deterred me. Finally, this year with 30% off, I gave in and ordered two of these for my two youngest (ages 6 and 2) as well a different version for my (12 yo).

I never thought to check the dimensions specifically—every lunch box insert or bento box (and we’ve tried quite a few) we’ve ever had has fit into a standard reusable lunch cooler bag. Upon receiving the boxes the sturdiness was impressive, but I was annoyed to find that they were awkwardly long and did not fit into the standard lunch bag.

The first day with the planetbox, I sent my kids to school with the box in their hands (without an ice pack). My son was very disappointed he couldn’t us his newly purchased Sonic lunch bag, and both of my kids came home saying that some of their food had gone bad without an ice pack.

My son even said that a boy in his class had called him disgusting because of his lunch. I still wanted to love them, and asked friends what they used for bags. That’s when I learned you either have to use PlanetBox bags or scour the internet for an uncommonly large lunch bag.

Not only did I have to spend $40+ (on sale?!) on a bento box, I needed to spend another $25 (on sale?!) on a bag? For the incredibly steep price, I am more than a little disappointed. And now I have to figure out whether I’m going to spend over $75 on new bags, or consider it a sunk cost and figure out something else.

I like that these are stamped stainless, so they don’t have weld seams in the food area to collect debris. I like that they’re fully stainless. I don’t like that the little cups and such don’t fit “anywhere” — because of the way the lid closes, and the 2 medium rectangles in the tray aren’t the same sizes as eachother, some of the containers only fit in the bins farther from the hinges.

I don’t like that the lid doesn’t fully or even close to seal. I’d be totally happy if there were a silicon gasket or seal to keep stuff at least a bit more contained. The other day my kid didn’t eat the pink part of her burrito because the moisture from o condensation on a cold item leaked into the dried strawberries and then turned everything pink.

I don’t like that the kid is permanently attached. If they did 2 clasps instead of hinge+clasp, then it would be better. Or a lid with hinges that are removable once opened. As it is, the tray takes up a lot of space on the lunch table.

And more than once has dragged the tray off the side of the table. Small nitpick but we have multiple sets of the labeling magnets. And we let the kid mix and match them. But they didn’t standardize on which of the shapes the kid’s name gets written on (sometimes it’s on the small rectangle sometimes on the medium rectangle etc).

So depending on which she picks, her name may not be on the box (or may be there twice).

We currently own two of these lunch box already, one V1 and one V2. This is my 3rd purchase for this lunch box as I wanted to replace one of the v1 for the V2. Compared to the V1 it has improved a lot.

The cover is easier to open, the thermos fit anyway instead of the perfect fit required for the V1. Most importantly the rubber seal has Changed so that nothing is trapped in between to creat mold. It take very little time to clean and dry now.

It is such a time saver and worth the money to replace the V1. I love that they don’t need an additional outer layer bag to put their lunch box in. The lunch box is big enough to carry all their snacks and lunch for the day.

The kids love the lunch box and are so proud to carry it around.

I bought this for my extremely picky eater and it’s given us so many more options for her school packed lunch. I always make sure to warm the thermos part with boiling water first as that really helps to keep the food warm until lunch.

She’s had pasta dishes, rice dishes and thick soups so far. The lunch box as a whole can hold a good amount of food and I also bought the silicone snack pots which are great as they’re leak proof so you can use them for things like yoghurts.

It definitely worth the money and I’d definitely recommend. My only negative is that’s it’s a little chunkier/heavier than our other lunch boxes.

Love and highly recommend this item. Purchased this for my 4 years old son. It fit main entrees, fruit, snack, and drink. For older kid, you can add more food in replace to drink. Thermal keep food very warm per teacher feedback! No carry bag require.

Utensil sold separately that can be conveniently hang on the lunch box. It is truly an all in one lunchbox for my son. I no longer need separate containers for hot food/snack/etc.

I got two of these to pack my daughter’s lunches in, and they are very good. They are sturdy and well made and it’s nice to have the different compartments. I would recommend them. That being said, there are a lot of areas where there could be minor improvements.

– The removable tray is dishwasher safe but the outer shell does not say that it is dishwasher safe. However the lid does come in contact with the food. This means that you still have to hand wash something.

You could put the outer shell in the dishwasher anyway but with the top and bottom attached together it is quite large. – The two clasps do not guide themselves into place, you have to press down on the lid so it is fully closed before snapping the clasps.

If you do not, they will go above the snap point and do nothing (though they will look closed). We often end up with one clasp properly locked and the other above the snap point. – The removable tray has “pockets” on both sides, obviously on the main side for the food but also on the reverse side as an effect of the manufacturing process.

This means that no matter which way you put it in the dishwasher, water (and food gunk) will fill up one set of pockets. – The way the external clamshell is designed the removable tray can almost fit in the bottom or the top or it can even almost fit rotated around, but the box will only close if the tray is in the 1 correct position.

This means that in the morning when you’re getting lunch packed and feeding kids breakfast, you have a 1 in 4 chance of getting the tray in the right way on your first try.

I recently purchased a two pack of the green/navy ice pack kid boxes. Although the ice pack is an amazing idea, I feel that there is a major design flaw. With both of my boxes the inner compartment (Ice pack and lunch tray) do not clip securely into the outer box.

We have a few bentgo boxes without ice packs and these always click in and never move around. I feel that this is because the lunch tray in the ice pack model is much thinner than in the original bentgo boxes and can bend and therefore pop out easily.

The fact that things do not stay clicked in also makes securing the lunch box closed challenging. The latch also pops open super easily. On a few occasions my daughter’s lunch has ended up all over her back pack which as you can imagine is very stressful for a kindergartener.

We have never had these concerns with our other bentgo boxes. Maybe with older kids these concerns would not be a problem. But for a 3 and 5 year old these concerns are difficult to overcome. I really wanted to love the ice pack boxes but given my many concerns the convenience is just not worth it.

The orginal Bentgo lunch box is far better quality in my opinion. Customer service was great! They understood my concerns and rectified the situation quickly.

My oldest kid has food allergies so lunch is taken everyday. We got these when she was in kindergarten, now she’s finishing 2nd. This is a great size for her and divided for her protein with a place for ketchup, fruit and vegetable and a open spot for a rare treat.

My youngest even has one that she has used since age 2 now 4. It is a great size for her to take to Mother’s Day out. Occasionally when she was younger she may not have gotten the lid back on just right after lunch but it wasn’t to big of a deal.

The latches where still easy for her to manage but not easy come i’m done on their own. We did do the press n stick wrap on the seals and that did help slow down the seals from getting gross. Though it didn’t help that my oldest left her lunch box at school 2 or 3 times over night so food just sat in there.

We planned on replacing it the end of the school year and making this one as a incase backup but then the latches ended up breaking, which was our first ever issue with it this whole time. We got it replaced with the warranty.

Bentgo customer service was very helpful and was able to replace it with the same one even though it wasn’t available online anymore. The support tech John was thoughtful in giving us an option realizing that the exact replacement would take two weeks to get to us or could send us another print choice and it would get here a lot sooner, since we use the bentgo box every day right now.

We were fine waiting as we had already ordered a third as a back up for next year when both girls are in school full time. Would definitely recommend and order these again.

We actually bought the large for our toddler. It is probably a little big for her, but she loves it and I never have to worry about running out of room. I can put her veggies and dip in one section, crackers in another and still fit a sandwich too.

WeeSprout also has the BEST costumer service. The lid didn’t fit quite right on our first one. I emailed them and within minutes they had a replacement on the way. The lid on the replacement stays secure and holds everything in its spot.

I definitely plan on buying more from WeeSprout in the future.

I bought these for school lunches. School doesn’t start for a while so we have an actually tested them out but they washed well in the dishwasher and the little container with silicone lid has been used and new spells and now issues.

My daughters love how little and adorable the container is. the silicone slides off easily with gentle pressure, but no slipping on its own. My youngest (4) can open the lid on her own which was my only concern.

We are excited for school to test them out.

Thought we had found great new durable lunchbox containers that would allow for salads and dressing, crackers and hummus, etc. VERY sadly disappointed! Lids do not stay on with normal lunchbox movement & food goes everywhere! Kids have been unable to eat their lunches twice now because the food is in a soggy pile.

It’s so important to us to shop responsibly, and we’re willing to pay for that. Sadly, this time we wasted out money.

The bottle is hot outside as well, wasn’t expecting that

X

TranslateShow in original languageSvår att dricka ur. Vattnet smakar plåt. Den håller inte alls vattnet kallt. Ångrar verkligen mitt köp. Köp hellre en med dubbla sidor.

I LOVE this lunchbox. It’s super cute, feels nice and fits one sandwich very well. I look forward to making my work lunch using this container. The lid fits snugly but is still easy to remove and it has a nice tinny sound when you take it off! I’ve even fit (just) an over-sized sandwich made from a rustic loaf in it.

This is exactly what I was looking for: a sandwich container that should last me forever. While our reusable lunch wraps are great, they will eventually wear out and go to landfill. This is totally recyclable! Sandwiches are bigger in the US/Canada, so there’s a little room around the edge and on top for Aussie sangers.

But this is no problem. Also while not leak-proof, this container keeps a sandwich very fresh. My young daughter has even used it for snacks and says, “Good!” I will probably buy some other Lunchbots products in the future because I’m so impressed with this, and their dip pots and divided containers look useful too.

Very satisfied with this product!.

Received the Bento Trio containers and condiment containers for my children this week. They look nice and my children are happy to have them though my son said his crackers were damp when he went to eat them.

All that accompanied them in the other sections was chopped apple and some crunchy vegetable sticks. I was aware the boxes are not leak-proof but even moisture or condensation can create some dampness so I will work out how to prevent this.

The boxes are pricey but they’ll be well used. However, not so fussed about the overpriced pack of 3 small condiment containers. I was disappointed that despite Hello Green’s statement about making a conscious decision to help protect our planet, the goods arrived wrapped in plastic bubble wrap.

Working in retail myself, I’m well aware that alternatives are possible but it comes down to convenience and profit. Hello Green, put your money where your mouth is!.

I bought this great little container (plus two other lunchbots configurations) at the beginning of the year in preparation for the school year. My daughter just started school so packing a lunch box for a whole day was a new thing for us.

These containers are great and have made it very easy to pack healthy & varied meals that look great every day. Initially, I was unsure about the sizing and whether they would hold enough but I didn’t need to worry as they really do hold a lot of food! I usually pack plenty of snack options in one container (either this one or the trio) and then lunch in one of the others (trio, duo or uno depending on the foods).

Most days, she comes home from school with uneaten food! We pack these containers into an insulated bag with an ice pack and the food stays really cold well and truly until home time even on a hot summer day.

Sometimes they come home feeling like they have been in the fridge all day instead of a lunch bag! I opted for the stainless steel lid after reading that the paint on the coloured lids can chip off very easily and I haven’t regretted the choice.

The stainless steel shines up nicely after each wash and have found them very easy to keep clean (I only hand wash). The lids also come on and off easily for little hands and even my 3 year old can use them without any hassles.

If you are after a plastic free alternative and looking for a quality container, I would not hesitate to recommend these little beauties.

When my son started eating solids, the PlanetBox’s Shuttle was the perfect lunchbox size to pack for my baby for when he attended daycare and started to explore and eat soft, wholesome foods and meals.

I used the Shuttle big square dipper to pack an entrée, and the pods to pack two small sides. The Shuttle big square dipper’s size was portioned just enough for my son to eat (and not eat since he was learning to grasp and feed himself).

I loved using this system since I did not have to resort to using Ziploc bags or other small containers. I have tried different bento boxes, and PlanetBox was ultimately the top choice because of the portion size and also because a friend highly recommended it after she went through several lunchboxes herself with her two daughters.

Other lunchboxes leaked, and I did not have this issue with PlanetBox. I wish I could share a picture of my baby’s meals that were packed using the Shuttle in this review. I would highly recommend this product because the quality is superior, and PlanetBox can be used for years to come.

I’ve been thinking about purchasing a planetbox for over a year now. After seeing so many reviews for people who have had theirs for years, (and being inspired by beautiful packed lunch pictures) I decided to buy two of the shuttles and some accessories for my two small toddlers.

Some have said it is too small but i couldn’t disagree more. It fits a vertical cut sandwich nicely (stacked) with room for veggies in the large compartment. I’ve used two pods in the smaller compartment for fruit or veggie sticks, or the little dipper of yogurt and some goldfish.

I can see my boys using this for many years to come, and this would make a great companion piece for a hot lunch in a thermos. These make it easy to pack food for my little ones for a long day out, and I’m looking forward to purchasing the Launch for my husband as he will soon be transitioning to cold lunches.

I highly recommend investing in planetbox, and the pods and big square dippers for a truly versatile meal experience.

My 2 year old son is starting preschool soon and this lunchbox will be perfect for him to take a healthy, fun lunch in. The color combos are great and the material is a neat, soft plastic. The little compartments are perfect size portions for toddlers and lead to a great variety of options.

I even enjoy seeing what different combinations I can come up with each time I pack it! The seal on the compartments is great too so nothing leaks into another space. Its also easy to clean, I literally just rinsed it out under running water and everything came off.

I also love that the silverware is included and super easy to push on and off but still stay in place. I would highly recommend this lunchbox, will last us a while. *** I received this product in exchange for honest feedback.

Time will tell whether the lunchbox is really leak proof but so far so good. I have baked (without the lid on of course), stored food in the fridge in the box and taken it out and about and really like the design where there is divider.

This does not prevent liquid from moving between the two sections but does keep eg salad separate from other food. I really like its versatility.

Doesnt keep warm

⭐️

TranslateShow in original languageSto mellom Stanley og denne. Kan se at denne ikke kommer til å ha lang levetid mtp materiale og utforming. Skjeen er laget av plast som fort kan knekke. Kunne ikke heller ta retur da det ville kostet 1/3 av prisen.

Hadde jeg visst det i utgangspunktet ville jeg aldri bestilt fra denne butikken.

I bought this for one of my kids. for their snacks and I should have purchased 2 since I have 2 kids, LOL. They both want to use the new bento (vs the ones they currently have, hahaha). So, we have agreed that they will each take the new one for one week before needing to switch back to their previous versions.

The size is perfect and itʻs light weight which is a bonus when they have to take it to school everyday.

The stainless steel appears to be sturdy, as do the clips that hold the parts together. I bought the tri-bento as a Christmas gift for a friend who takes his lunch to work with him. I am not sure if everything will fit in the round shape, but I think a sandwich could be adjusted to fit.

The great thing is–no leftover plastic bag waste to deal with.

Amazing quality and I don’t say that lightly! Today a lot of stainless steel is flimsy. This trio is solid and is just right for meal size! Great product!

Caveat – we love bentgo stuff! I upgraded my 7 year old from the bentgo kids lunchbox (thick plastic with separate exterior part). This one is lighter and can easily bigger items such as full sandwich along with other “sides” (fruit, granola bars, cheese stick).

I like that the separator thing can slide to accommodate different sized things. I do wish the set included two of these separators to divide more stuff. I haven’t checked to see if these can be bought separately.

The black paint on the stainless steel has started to scratch off but that doesn’t bother us (or her). The lid and separator are recommended to hand wash which is annoying since I hate washing by hand if it fits in the dishwasher.

We’ve put these on the top rack so hopefully it doesn’t impact the suctioning. Time will tell!.

First off, all the bad reviews saying it’s hard to open are from people that can’t read directions. There’s a little rubber pop tap at the top that releases any suction and once that’s pulled up it can be opened very easily.

When the tab is pressed down, the top is locked on. That being said, this bento box is a life saver. I no longer have to use plastic sandwich bags and the sandwiches and snacks I put in stay fresh until they’re eaten.

It’s also very easy to clean and I plan on buying more soon.

I always take a lunch to work or my kids to school. The Bentgo Stainless Steel Lunch box is awesome. It is very convenient to take and carry around. It has a leak proof silicone seal design which is great, I don’t want my food spilling anywhere.

You can customize the compartments and has a release valve to remove the lid. It is easy to clean and store away, also dishwasher safe so easy to clean and ready for the next day to take to work. I am very happy with my lunch box and that my food stays warm.

TranslateShow in original languageLa boîte à lunch en acier inoxydable m’accompagne presque tous les jours depuis sa livraison à mon bureau. La taille est idéale pour ma ration de déjeuner. Pour les petites choses, il y a toujours la prise supplémentaire.

Nettoyage optimal au lave-vaisselle et design intemporel. Seules les pinces ne sont pas optimales. On s’en détache souvent. Le couvercle est encore serré, donc un seul point de détente.

Love the lunch box, straight into the dishwasher and looks so cute!

TranslateShow in original languageWirkt durch den Edelstahl sehr hochwertig. Jedoch, um es zu schliessen muss man zu fest draufdrücken und um es zu öffnen wieder zu fest daran ziehen. Das öffnen und schliessen ist für meine 3jährige Tochter nahezu unmöglich.

Solange ich dabei bin, ist es auch kein Hinderniss. Gekauft wurde es jedoch um es zur Spielgruppe mitzunehmen, wo zwar Aufsichtspersonen anwesend sind, aber ohne Hilfe sich die Box nicht öffnen bzw. schliessen lässt.

I’ve tried a few different lunch containers for my children and these are my favorite by far. They are easy to open, and seal tightly and the removable seal is easy to clean; I wouldn’t try it with liquids (soups), but seems to be enough to keep salad dressing or a little sauce all in.

I love the moveable insert that is flexible for different sized items, and that these are slightly deeper than the other similar sized containers I’ve found. These containers are just the right size to fit in our Fluf lunch bags.

For my 2nd grader who has a smaller appetite, this size is generally good for the whole school day; for my preschooler with a larger appetite, this is fine for a snack or lunch, but I have to pack two for the school day (or maybe I’ll upgrade and try the medium container for kinder next year).

It’s only been a week of lunches, but it’s been the perfect size for my 4 year old. Sliding divider is a great idea. Stay closed. I haven’t tested out it’s leak-proof-ness yet. It is a bit heavier than other boxes because it’s all stainless steel so it adds some backpack weight, but not enough to make me wish I bought different box.

So far I’m very happy with this. I use to carry lunch and snacks for baby when we are out for the day. Good size, easy to open, easy to clean, and good construction. The divider would not keep liquids from seeping to the other compartment but that’s not really an issue for me.

It’s nice that the divider is adjustable.